The Northern Forest of Tob, three days before the Zuranon Disaster
Branches whipped around him, slicing his skin and beating at the exposed parts. Thorns tore into the soles of his boots, tearing them off of his feet as he ran. His pants, recently stitched and hemmed, were reopened and damaged by the brush in his path.
"Tulipa! Tulipa, where are you?"
His voice reverberated through the bark of the compact trees, muffling in the dense foliage. Even the moonlight was sparse, beams of celestial light shining in scattered patches along the forest floor. That which was not lit was buried into the darkness of the ancient sentinels which dotted his vision.
"Tulipa!" he screamed, his vocal cords straining and his lungs feeling as if they were being crushed beneath a boulder. Sweat coated his brow, and his limbs shook from physical exhaustion. He forced his hearing to absorb every insignificant sound there was.
"Svend!" another voice replied from further in the tree line, a woman's. "I'm over here!"
Svend let loose an audible sigh of relief, the shadows which lapped at his heels seemingly receding and giving him a clear path forward. He still sprinted to where he heard the voice, his heart pounding and his blood roaring in his ears.
His bare feet tore into the earth, his adrenaline negating the pain of the thorns digging into his heels. He snapped any and all branches that barred his way.
"Tulipa," he shouted, breaking past a particularly thick wall of twigs and dead branches into a large, circular clearing. Here the full moon could shine unrestricted, the canopy of trees cut away by the caress of time.
Svend whipped his head around, searching for the source of the voice, desperately looking for the one he needed most.
A petite mass slammed into him with a cry, knocking the wind out of him and taking him to the ground. His laughter was pure and exhilarated when he realized who it was.
Her skin was as rough as tree-bark, and of the same color too. Her shoulder-length hair was a tumble of pine needles that poked at his neck and cheeks. She wore a simple, earthy tunic that went past the middle of her thighs.
Hers was the build of a runner, thin but strong in all the ways needed to provide long-distance sprinting. But in Svend's experience, he knew that she could not run very far from her home. At least not without outside means
"Tulipa!" He started, running his hands up and down her wooden body, "Are you alright? Did you get hurt on your way here? I got your message but I wasn't sure what you were trying to-"
She placed a finger against his lips with a giggle, "Svend, you silly man! Why are you so out of breath? I knew you were excited to see me but I never thought you would have gotten here so quickly. Why do you look like you were just hounded by a pack of wolves?"
The young man's brow furrowed. "What? I got here so quick because you called me for help! I heard your voice while I was out marking trees to be cut down, but I couldn't see you...You told me to come here…"
The woman tilted her head, leaves and needles rolled off of her shoulders and fell into the lush grass. "But...you told me to come and see you too. You told me that you got some time off and to meet you here in our usual spot."
"Tulipa, that doesn't make any sense. You know dad has been working me like a pack mule. I think time off would have been the absolute last thing on his mind right now. As soon as I heard you I came running. I didn't feel like there was time to wait for anybody else to come help."
She looked off to the side, her face deep in thought as she observed her surroundings. Yet, it was Svend himself who noticed the change before his beloved could.
"Is it just me, or has everything else just gone quiet?"
True to his word, the nighttime ambience had faded away, not even the wind to keep them company. Unseen eyes seemed to bore into the both of them, but when they twisted in all directions to spot the cause they found nothing. They both got back to their feet, not letting go of one another.
The hairs on Svend's arm stood on end, and goosebumps prickled the surface of his skin. Every instinct within him yelled at him to run and to take the dryad in his arms as far away as possible.
The trees themselves appeared hostile, the shadows of their bulk bending in such a way as if to loom over them both. He could imagine faces, vague and clay-like, in the gloom, sneering at them both for crimes they were yet to commit.
"Svend," she said, her voice unsure, "Can you feel that too? The trees...we need to get out of here, now."
"Definitely," he agreed, but when he turned to go back the way he came, he saw that a new thicket had grown where he had entered their private grove. When Tulipa turned to gaze at her own entrance, it was more or less the same way: completely sealed.
The trees leaned in closer, their branches interlocking and closing off the beams of moonlight which had lit their entire world. Thudding came from the distance, beyond the greenery that surrounded them both.
Svend pulled the dryad closer to his body, attempting to shield them both from whatever it was that held them in its clutches. The thudding became a clamoring boom, growing louder and louder in a steady beat that was reminiscent of footsteps.
"They won't listen to me," Tulipa cried, her timber facial features scrunching in panic, "It's-it's like they're intentionally ignoring me. That shouldn't be possible!"
"Is there anything else we could do?" he asked, his teeth rattling with icy apprehension and the consistent shaking of the dirt beneath them.
"I don't know! These trees shouldn't be sentient yet! They should be listening to me. I don't know, I don't-"
"Hey, hey listen to me," he said gently, despite the situation at hand, "We'll get out of here. Whatever it is, I won't let whatever it is lay a finger on you. I promise on the name of my father."
She smiled back at the human, cupping his face. "I know you won't. I won't let them either, whatever it is. I swear on the name of the Deep Roots."
Svend nodded solemnly, reaching for her left hand. She joined with him gladly, and the both of them twirled to face the oncoming fount of noise.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
The great titans of the forest groaned, shards of bark and leaves flaking off as they bent to create a pathway. Their shade deepened around a shape nearly as tall as the oaks of the grove, wood cracking and splintering with each step.
It grabbed onto one of the trees for support as it stepped into the clearing, hesitating for just a moment. It snapped the oak in half with what looked like a gentle squeeze.
Svend planted himself in front of Tulipa, who herself tried to stand in front of the young man. Both of them panted, their eyes widening at the silhouette that avoided the moonlight that just barely peeked past the overgrown canopy.
What little brightness could make it through appeared to deflect from the murk of their visitor's titanic form, the grass crunching underfoot as it withered and died from its presence.
The young lumber worker felt feverish, and sweat pooled in the confines of the peach fuzz on his youthful face. The wood of the dryad's arm that he grasped crackled, and yellowed with age.
Each footfall was like thunder, slamming into the earth and leaving impressions a foot deep into the fertile ground. It, too, dried as the moisture inside evaporated with a hiss.
It gave off a presence of pure hunger, one which could engulf all in its path and never remained satisfied with its harvest. Its eyes glowed an eerie red, two pinpoints in the night that pierced the veil of serenity that a forest at rest offered.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
It came to a stop in front of the couple, inches away from the both of them. It made no other movements other than to crane its neck to peer at them. Spear-like structures jutted from its head, which was elongated into a strange, pointed snout.
Its body was incredibly tall but lanky, with twig-like limbs but legs as thick around at the calves as trunks. All of this was obscured in the pitch which clung to its frame.
The silence persisted, as the dryad, human, and odd beast engaged in a stare-down. It was only broken when the beast tilted its head in curiosity, reaching out with a razor-sharp finger. It let out a slight gurgle.
The tip touched Svend's sternum, who found himself unable to move or even breath. His blood felt as if it was boiling inside of his own body, and nausea threatened to make him hurl out the contents of his dinner.
Fear and some other authority forbid his body from stepping out of the way, or bringing out a weapon to defend him and his own with. He was under the effects of the visitor, which simultaneously plagued and anchored him to his spot
Tulipa trembled, clinging onto the young man's bicep as she watched with horrified fascination at the exchange. She was half tempted to swat away the appendage, to run back to her home tree and meld into it with her love in tow.
Much like her lover, she was confined into a state of stationary terror, one which left her vulnerable and at the mercy of the creature's whim. She grit her teeth in effort to move, but to no avail.
The lumber worker finally worked up the courage and mental fortitude to reach inside of his pant waist, pulling out a shiny but miniature dagger. It had been freshly sharpened and polished, though this meant nothing in the total eclipse that he was faced with now.
The beast reacted to this, pressing down harshly with its finger and puncturing his chest. The man gagged and choked on his own blood, which poured out copiously from the gaping hole in his body and from his throat.
Whatever held Tulipa hostage vanished, her fingers unclenching from the man's arm as he collapsed to the ground, spasming in his death throes. She let loose a screech of otherworldly malice and sorrow, her eyes glowing chlorophyll green as her magical might returned to her.
Roots exploded from the earth beneath her feet, shooting out at the offending being and lashing at its shadow laden form. But when the roots reached and coiled around its legs, they wilted and dried.
The beast bellowed in outrage, raising a massive fist above its head and swinging with full frontal fury. The dryad never got the chance to scream, smashed within an instant of retaliation.
The creature lingered, its fist resting atop the crushed nature spirit before unhurriedly raising its bodily weapon. Sticky sap dripped from its fingers, drizzling onto the corpse of Svend as the beast waved its hand over him.
It looked at the hand afterwards, the sap absorbing into the shadows. The monstrosity clenched and unclenched its mitt, turning it over to look for more sap. The limb fell to the side, having lost interest quickly, before it returned its attention to the lumber worker beneath it.
His eyes stared glassily into the moon, crimson lifeblood draining between his teeth and flowing down the sides of his cheeks. Tears joined the stream, mixing in and being lost to the viscosity of the life fluid.
The knife had fallen from his grip, burying blade first into the dusty soil.
The creature returned to its full height, calmly grabbing Svend's corpse and cradling it in its arms, like a newborn babe. It also scrapped up the broken body of Tulipa, holding her in much the same position.
It stomped back the way it came, the trees parting before it like castle gates, their wood decaying and crumbling in its presence. Only when it passed the threshold did it glance over its shoulder at the destroyed grove.
"SVEND! HELP ME! I NEED HELP! SOMETHING IS CHASING ME!" it said, perfectly mimicking the voice of the now passed dryad.
"Hey Tulipa, want to meet me in our usual place? I got some time off…," it replied to itself, now in the boyish tone of the deceased lumber worker.
It chittered, shaking its head and scraping the protrusions against the higher reaching branches of the oaks. It faced away from the clearing then, continuing down its path and leaving the once private abode to diminish.
The only trace left of either of the lovers was a patch of amber sap and dark red blood combining in the center, illuminated by the moonlight that was permitted to rejoin the grove.
Sixth Floor of Nazarick, two days before the Zuranon Disaster.
"You know, I don't think I really enjoy the shade of blue that the sky is anymore."
At least, that's what Blue Planet told to himself, flopping back onto the grass with a sigh. He placed both his hands behind his head, being mindful of his massive antlers.
Ever since he and his friends' arrival, he felt a growing sense of discontentment, carefully nurtured everytime he stepped outside of Nazarick. He had nearly wept at the sheer beauty that the new world had to offer, making all of his hard work on the Sixth Floor, his pride and joy eternal, seem like a toddler's first rendition of nature.
He mentally slapped himself for the notion, but it served only to deepen his dissatisfaction with his creation. Everytime he would take a walk through the lush and nature inspired floor, he would find more and more flaws in the details he had not heeded before.
"These roses are too dark," he muttered while enjoying tea and lemon cakes with the twins and Bukubukuchagama one day. His Oblex guildmate swished in confusion, but the twins gained thoughtful looks at his comment.
"The bushes are too dense, and these trees are too tall," he smoldered another day, glaring so hard at the shrubbery as if to set it on fire. When he walked away, he happened to spot Cocytus and Takemikazuchi sparring in a nearby clearing.
"What's up with the grass? This is way moist," he scowled, plucking up handfuls of blades of grass and throwing them into the lake.
And on, and on, and on it went.
You know you worked hard on this place, so what's the deal here? Isn't it everything you thought it would be?
The seilenoi blew a stray strand of hair out of his eye, his mood darkening with each and every second that he spent in the Sixth Floor. He tried to strangle the stray thought into submission, but to no avail. When it swirled in a tornado of self-loathing and doubt that battered at the insides of his cranium, that's when he shot to his hooves.
"DAMN IT! I can't take this anymore, I need to get outside! The real outside! Or I swear I'm gonna lose my mind!"
"What's this about a real outside?"
Blue Planet jumped, the bells tied in his antlers jingling from his shock and horror at being heard for his private thoughts. He whirled around to see just who it was that would come to see him at a time like this.
He was met with the toothy grin of the werewolf, Ankoro Mocchi Mochi, who stood there with a hand cocked on one hip.
Out of all of his guildmates to greet him, she was both the most and least expected to come and bother him. The elder satyr knew that he had been less than subtle with his recent change in attitude, and, thankfully, his friends abided by his unspoken wishes to be left alone during his moods. At least until now.
She was fearsome and wild in every sense of the word, dressed in tattered, leather clothing that he knew from experience would be far stronger than even some prismatic metals, if it was still just a cosmetic layered over her true gear.
She was covered from head to paw in dark, charcoal-grey fur, with lighter hues on the insides of her arms, legs, and stomach. Her toes and fingers ended in the wicked claws of a dire-wolf, fur greaves and sandals with fur bracers to clad them.
Sticks and fine meshes of dirt coated her hair, which tumbled in wavy locks over her shoulders. Her face was vaguely humanoid to be considered attractive, but it slightly jutted out to form the beginnings of a sniffling snout. Her almond shaped eyes gleamed with mischief.
Blue Planet sighed, readjusting his jerkin and the bells that had been offset in his alarm. "It's kinda rude to be eavesdropping on somebody just 'cause you're bored Mochi. Don't you have better things to do?"
The scout tapped her chin in mock thought, even humming for added effect. "Nah...truth is, man, that you've been down in the dumps lately and I wanted to see what's up. Got a bit of Cabin Fever?"
"If you must know, I wanted to go out and explore for a little while. I've been sitting on my furry rump for the past week and now I'm itching to get back out there, especially considering Momonga gave us all the greenlight."
"You mean Punitto Moe gave us all the greenlight. I was there at the meeting too, remember?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose, huffing and shaking his head. "Look, it doesn't matter who told us we could do it. The point is that I need to get out of Nazarick and go...I don't know, outside or something."
"What's this about going outside?"
Blue Planet wanted to slam his head into the dirt, but refrained from doing so on account of not wanting to accidentally snap his antler's. He turned away from his canine friend to face the newest member of their conversation.
Coup De Grace had always been somewhat of an oddball in Ainz Ooal Gown. Not because he had strange tastes or participated in any particular pastimes out of the normal, but rather because of how he chose to operate in the glory days of Yggdrasil.
The androsphinx had been a surprisingly successful solo player when he had been inducted, but much like many other would-be solo players, he hit a content wall that was insurmountable unless he had a guild to join.
It also helped that he was quite noble and proud in his visage, gleaming cream-colored fur gave him a royal appearance, amplified by the blue runes painted into it for superficial reasons.
His mane was combed back and meticulously cared for, clipped to give it a uniform but still kingly look. His eyes were a solid electric blue through and through, and eagle-like wings sprouted from his back. They were dyed the same shade of blue as his eyes at the tips, as were the tops of his pads on his feet.
He wore a jewel encrusted silver necklace, that just barely peeked out from his voluminous mane. But perhaps the most unique aspect of him was the fact that he walked quadrupedally.
While the satyr knew that some heteromorphic races had...peculiarities about their locomotion, he at least understood that the hunter could stand upright if he so chose. Yet, when questioned about it, he always gave the same answer each and every time.
"What difference does it make, whether I chase down my prey on all fours or on my hind legs? All the better to stalk my haul from the tall grass and pounce with."
Regardless, he crossed his arms when he looked down at the androsphinx. "Me and Mochi were just talking about me going outside and getting out of the house for a while. Though, knowing you, I'm guessing you're gonna want to come too, right?"
"That would depend, my friend, on where exactly we will be going."
That got the druid to pause, realizing that while his desire to experience true nature once more sprouted within his heart, he hadn't the faintest clue of where exactly he could start.
Well, I could always look at the map again, or just go ask Nubo about it. I think there was this place called the Forest of Tob?
He hadn't really bothered with the papers he was given, at least not since he had fallen into the pitfall that was his self-pity. But now that he was faced with such a conundrum, he knew it couldn't hurt to take another look.
He raised one hand up into the space to his left, activating his inventory and pulling out a rolled up document. He unfurled it, squinting at the unfinished sheet, intricately drawn by an expert hand, or vines, he wasn't entirely sure.
"We could check out the Forest of Tob," Blue Planet suggested, pointing at the pictorial trees. "Sounds like it could be a lot of fun, plus I could always try and get some new references or bring back some samples."
Ankoro Mocchi Mochi peered over his shoulder, grunting when she bumped the base of his antlers. "Really? A forest? But that's so cliche! We should go and see if Nubo has any other places for us to check out. Guarantee there's places ten times more exciting than some forest."
"I'd rather not," Coup De Grace warned, his snout crinkling as if he smelled something foul. "Lately, he's been harassed by Temperance and Dynamite, and I believe he has grown tired of it."
"What have they done that's so bad you feel the need to avoid ol' Pigeon for?"
"Shadowy feather fireworks..."
The seilenoi furrowed his brows at that, not really comprehending but refusing to clarify on account of the haunted look the androsphinx had. Even the werewolf queen glanced at him quizzically.
Before any of them could answer, they collectively heard the boisterous laughing of the chimera, Beast King Mekongawa, from off in the distance. All three looked up from the map to see him play wrestling with his nemean lions, while his creation, Lupusregina Beta, clapped and hollered off to the side.
The three of them advanced to where the quartet was, standing a healthy distance away from the grappling predators.
"GO DAD!" Lupusregina cheered, not noticing the arrivals. "SHOW 'EM WHO'S BOSS!"
"YOU GOT IT KIDDO!" Mekongawa yelled back, hoisting the male, Neagan, over his head. He gently tossed the male towards Sasha, his mate, where the two bowled over each other. Neither seemed especially hurt, rolling back onto their feet and charging their master.
The chimera met them with resounding chuckling, lifting up the male by his front paws with one hand until he was standing on his back legs. He pinned the female down by her head with the other, while she merrily batted at his forearm.
The werewolf pleiade was so engrossed in the mock fight that she did not notice the other three guildmates, until Blue Planet tapped her shoulder.
She startled, pressing a hand against her chest and on high alert until she saw who it was.
"Oh! Sorry, Lord Blue Planet, I didn't see you there. I got a little engaged with watching dad right now."
She bowed slightly to the androsphinx. "Lord Coup De Grace, always an honor."
But when her eyes landed on the fellow werewolf, who smirked at her formal nature, the pleiade abandoned all protocol to rush the scout.
"Aunt Akoro! It's great to see you!" she squealed, practically tackling the werewolf queen in a bear hug.
She chortled in a way that would have rivaled the currently battling beast master. "What's up kid? I hope you're keeping my fool brother from doing anything too stupid?"
"Aunt Ankoro, you know I can't make dad do anything! All I can do is be a good daughter and just cheer him on."
The scout pat the smaller NPC on the back. "I know, I know. I just like messing with ya, is all. What is he doing anyways?"
"Giving Sasha and Neagan the exercise they needed," Mekongawa answered, joining the small group. "They've been tearing up my couch and I felt bad making the maids sew it back together again."
Said lions were now basking in the artificial sunlight, chuffing with their eyes closed in relaxed bliss. Their luxurious platinum coats rippled in the wind, so invitingly fluffy that Blue Planet was tempted to go over and run his hands through them.
But alas, he resisted, refocusing his attention on the conversation at hand.
"Dad, you know that's our job, and we're more than happy to do it!" The werewolf pleiade reassured, giving her creator a gentle smile.
The chimera shrugged, rolling his powerful shoulders. "Still, feels demeaning in a way. I can get being brought food, or drink, or...other things, but it almost seems insulting. Somehow."
"Dad."
"Ah, well, we're here at least, but I feel like I could use some fresh air myself. What do you say we try and head out of Nazarick for a bit, kiddo?"
Lupusregina had stars in her eyes, the notion of exploring outwardly igniting a fire in her belly that the seilenoi could appreciate. He subconsciously nodded in approval as he mentally counted out the items needed for the trip.
"Really?! That'd be great, is there a certain spot we could go to?"
Before the Chimera could answer, he tilted his head upwards as if he were trying to listen for something in the distance. He put two fingers up to where his ear was, confirming that a private messenger came through to him.
"Talk to me," he said, his sovereign face becoming serious. He bobbed his head in answer, humming at certain points as he listened. He finally brought down both fingers to address them all.
"Bad news. I can't come with you. Momonga just called me to ask for help. Do any of you happen to know where I could find Aura by chance? I don't think I'd need her assistance but it never hurts to be safe."
"I think she's over at her and Mare's tree house with Buku'," Blue Planet replied. "Something about planting a new garden? I don't know, I haven't been paying attention."
"Blue Planet, our most esteemed naturalist, doesn't even know what kinda plants are being grown on his own floor? Yeah, I think you do need to get out of the house."
And with that, the beastmaster crouched to all fours, launching himself with a thump of his wings. He buffeted them all with his draconic wings a few times while in the air.
"Lupus!" he shouted from the sky, "Go with everybody else and make sure Blue Planet has a great time! I love you and be safe, okay?"
He then flew in the direction of a staggeringly massive sequoia, where Mare and Aura's residence was on the Sixth Floor. Both of his nemean lions sprinted after him, their paws digging into the dirt as they attempted to keep up with their master.
Lupusregina reached out with one hand, her face falling in disappointment. She retracted both, putting on her best customer service smile and clasping both hands in front of her to face the three remaining guildmates.
"Well, I believe my lords and aunt said something about wanting to visit the human world?"
The preparation didn't take long afterwards, not with the help of the homunculus maids. They went their separate ways after leaving the Sixth Floor to return to their suites and gather whatever it was they thought they would need or want for the trip.
When Blue Planet walked into his abode, he already found three different maids waiting inside. They bowed at the waist with serene expressions.
"My lord," said one with her dark-brown hair styled in a cut that reached down to her chin. "We await your orders. How might we serve the Supreme Being of Nature himself?"
He raised an eyebrow at that, but brushed aside his questions in lieu of gathering his essentials. "I'm just going to be getting my stuff. I wanted to go explore the world for a little while and I want to pack for the long haul."
Evidently what he said was somehow upsetting, as one of the other maids, a woman whose hair was streaked with stripes of blue and yellow, spoke up.
"U-um, were you able to speak with L-lord Punitto Moe about your trip yet?"
Now he was really confused at the maids, their entire demeanor shifting from calm and professional to what he would guess to be downright terrified.
Another gave him an expression of trepidation, her lower lip quivering. Her hair was a solid white, and tied up into a tight bun. "Surely, Lord Blue Planet, we would never dare to tell you what you should do, but as your faithful servants, we wish nothing but the best for you."
"Indeed, my lord," said the dark haired maid, "We are but lowly maids, but...well, we do not wish to see you meet the same fate as King Momonga and Lords Bellriver and Garnet."
Blue Planet could feel the mental gears churning his thoughts, trying to recall what exactly happened to the three mentioned guildmates to make the maids act as they were.
There was that whole situation with that one village, Carne I think? They saved it, came home with some hostages, then Punitto met them and...oh…
Suddenly their fear made sense, and he couldn't help but wince at the memory of the newspaper that the battle priest was infamous for. It originally began as a joke item, meant only to enforce the most mundane of rules within Ainz Ooal Gown.
Over time, however, the death vine player slowly upgraded the rolled up bunch of paper, until it eventually reached a divine level status. From that point on, the strategist would employ his choice weapon in dealing out doom upon not only the enemies of their guild, but the very members which comprised it.
Some of their more troublesome members who had been on the receiving end of its newsprinted wrath tried to either sell it, get rid of it, or outright destroy it. Every attempt would be met with failure in one form or another, and end up safely stashed within the inventory of Punitto Moe.
If there's a god somewhere out there, may he preserve us all.
He shook himself from his thoughts when he realized he was silent for too long, the maids growing more and more nervous as evidenced by the shuffling of their feet and aversion of their eyes.
"Hey, uh, don't worry about me," Blue Planet said, opting for his most comforting smile, "I'll be fine. I'm not breaking any rules, and as far as they've told us, each and every single one of us is more than able to go out exploring. If Punitto or Ancient One have a problem with that, they can take it up with me."
The maids still seemed unsure, weighing their options most likely on what they could probably say to the satyr without rebuke.
"My lord," the dark brown haired maid started, "we understand that, as Supreme Beings, you are more than entitled to anything you so wish, but if even King Momonga and those chosen by him are subject to the punishment of the Supreme Being of Strategy, then it is only natural that, as your loyal servants, we worry for your safety and wellbeing."
"Well, that's very nice and all, but I think-Wait, hold on, back up a second there. Did you just call Momonga a 'king'?"
He didn't think his tone accusatory in any sense of the word, but the maids' eyes widened in horror. All three threw themselves at his feet, kneeling in submission.
"Please, forgive us our choice of language, our lord!" the yellow and blue striped hair maid cried, shoving her bonnet into the carpet as she kneeled deeper.
"We seek only to give our praises and love to our creators!" the white haired maid wailed, "We meant no disrespect, only that we observe the proper formalities!"
The satyr druid blinked, absorbing what his weeping maids told him. The poor things were trembling like wet dogs, and they peeked up at him through the bangs of their locks, as if awaiting punishment of some kind.
He slowly sank to his shaggy knees, holding his hands up in a non-threatening way. "Hey, listen, I'm not mad. You gals just got me off guard is all."
The maids said nothing, refusing to look him in the eye and whimpering in their self-regret. Blue Planet sighed, and did what he imagined what they would want him to do.
"You all can look at me. Like I said, you're not in any trouble whatsoever, I just want to understand."
One moment passed, then another.
Finally, the maids rose their heads in unison, their eyes bloodshot with tears and uncertainty. One of them pulled out a handkerchief and blew her nose in it.
"We all know the story of...King Momonga," the dark haired maid said, "we know of his duty to remain within Nazarick, that wherever the rest of the Supreme Beings had gone, that he alone remained behind to stand guard."
"Stand guard?" the druid queried gently, giving them a soft smile and gesturing for them to go on.
The yellow and blue stripe haired maid picked up where the dark haired maid had left off. "Yes, my lord. While you had returned to the first world, he sat on the Throne of Kings, maintaining the Great Tomb of Nazarick and defending it from those who would do our home harm."
"Like in the Great Invasion of Nazarick," added the white haired maid, who dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her own handkerchief.
All three nodded. "Yes, like the other gods had attempted to do."
The entire situation felt surreal, as if he were living through a common retelling of some old-world mythology straight out of the minds of Tabula or Ankoro Mocchi Mochi. His curiosity piqued and his original purpose for coming to his room forgotten, he decided to put forth another question.
"Other gods? And what does this have to do with you guys calling Momonga a king?"
The maids were calm by then, the redness of their eyes receding and the last of their snot blown so that they could properly speak and answer.
"We...do not know much of the outside world," Dark Hair, as Blue Planet internally named her, admitted. "We know only what we are told, and what we ourselves have experienced or learned from the Library of Ashurbanipal."
"We know that other pantheons of gods grew jealous of our lords' might," said White Hair, "and so banded together to try and destroy our way of life, our very home."
Yellow and Blue Stripes nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, but our lords would not allow them to do so, for they were the wisest and most powerful of all gods, and it was our Supreme Beings who chose one among them to stand at the peak, and lead them to battle and victory."
The druid was pretty sure that was not how the Eight Guild Invasion had actually gone, but he was too invested by that point to interrupt.
"The battle was hard fought, and many of the other gods had been killed, as was their just punishment," Dark Hair spat, "but eventually their forces were driven out of Nazarick and out of Helheim itself. And so these other gods swore never to come and harm Nazarick ever again, considering that even their World Champions themselves had been slain in humiliation."
"And so it was that the Supreme Beings had reasserted their authority, and thus that King Momonga, despite holding the throne, became a true ruler of the Supreme Beings of Nazarick," Yellow and Blue Stripes finished.
The seilenoi internalized everything he was given, noticing already the many, many holes within their story. What was also noteworthy was that it didn't even take into account Momonga's position as their guild leader ever since Ainz Ooal Gown's creation.
To be fair, we never really treated him differently, at least not until it counted, Blue Planet reflected, mulling over his thoughts.
"So, just out of curiosity," he said, "you gals call us 'Supreme Beings', while you call the other pla-people 'gods'. What's the difference?"
He had many other questions he would like to have answers to, but he didn't want to overwhelm and upset the maids again, so he felt a more simple line of thought might be best suited for them.
"If a god is regarded as the peak of mortal achievement, then it is only right to assume that a Supreme Being is the peak of godly achievement," White Hair answered, her serene expression returning.
He tapped his knee, trying to think of a way that he could voice his opinion without upsetting the maids as he did before. He settled on what was successful up until that point.
"So, listen," he began easily enough, "While Momonga is our 'leader' in a technical sense, he's not a king, per say."
The maids gave him questioning glances, not comprehending the direction that he was steering the conversation.
"Uh, well, he is our leader, but he's not our king because he doesn't rule over us. The other members of Ainz Ooal Gown, I mean," he clarified, hoping that would perhaps alleviate their confusion somewhat.
It did not, unfortunately.
He smacked his hand against his knee and stood up, beckoning the maids to rise with him. He took that moment to look each one of them in the eye, drinking in their otherworldly beauty and appreciating the hard work that Whitebrim, Coup de Grace, and HeroHero had done.
He took a deep breath before he spoke again. "All of us in Ainz Ooal Gown, we're friends, family even in some regards. Nobody is above anybody here. Not me, not you, and especially not Momonga. We don't do things here by fear, or hate, or anything like that."
"So why do you listen to Ki-Lord Momonga as you do then?" White Hair asked. She put on a brave facade, but the druid saw the barest tremor in her lower lip. The other maids looked nervous for their compatriot, Dark Hair grabbing her left hand.
"We listen to Momonga not because he's the strongest, or the smartest, or even the most good looking," Blue Planet joked, hoping for a smile at least from his charges. They did not laugh, but their fear seemed to abate.
He took that as progress. "Momonga was chosen because if it were anyone else, we would fall apart. We've only stuck together this long because he's our mediator. I'll admit that some of our people...aren't so great, but at the end of the day, we are Ainz Ooal Gown, and that's only possible because people like him can stand above it all and listen to us when we need it."
He tapped his heart then, the bells in his antlers jingling as he inclined his head. "In a way, he represents all of us because he's none of us. He's not a physical powerhouse like Touch Me, or some ultra-powerful mage like Ulbert. He's just...him, and I think that's something we can all appreciate."
"Now," he said, clapping Dark Hair and White Hair's shoulders, who stood on either side of Yellow and Blue Stripes. "As lovely as this conversation and all of you are, I think my friends are waiting for me, so I really do need to start packing my stuff up. Can you gals help me out?"
The maids finally beamed at him, taking a step back to bow to him deeply.
"Of course, my lord," said Dark Hair.
"Whatever your wish, we shall do to the very best of our abilities," replied White Har.
"Thank you for what you have shared with us, we'll ensure that it gets passed to the rest of the homunculus staff," finished Yellow and Blue Stripes.
And then all three said in unison, "What shall we get for you first, our lord?"
Blue Planet walked out of his room, strapping on his wooden bracers and tightening the latches on his iron-wood themed chest piece. He fixed the clasps of his earth-brown cape, enjoying the sort of "super hero" aesthetic that it gave him.
He thumbed the timber mask in his hands, looking haphazardly carved with a dull and cheaply forged knife. It held a home-made look that he could appreciate, as if he had taken the time on a camping trip to make it himself.
Maybe if all goes well on this trip, I can legitimately make my own.
He stashed the mask back into his inventory, exchanging it for a long, simple walking stick made of the same material as his chest plate. There was a pine cone resting in a notch at the top, where four roots clung to it in the cardinal directions.
"Nature's Best Friend," he murmured softly, tracing the flowing rifts in the wood. His first ever divine class weapon, though it didn't have the best possible stats that a player of his level would or should have. Nonetheless…
"You're my good luck charm."
He thrust it at the ground, bunching up the rug outside of his door. He then looked to the ring situated on his left hand, blowing a small stream of wind on it. It activated with a hum, teleporting him to his intended destination.
It was rather like blinking, a temporary blip of darkness, before the sunlight warmed his buckish cheeks. He stood on the steps of a large mausoleum that led into the inside of Nazarick. From his position he could see a perimeter of ruined walls, meant to appear as if worn down by the unrelenting touch of time.
There were four smaller mausoleums that sat in the four cardinal directions, though Blue Planet knew not what they could house. Several graveyards were placed around the crumbling pillars of the walls, no real reason as to their position or their styles, only what he imagined his guildmates had allowed to remain on account of a "coolness" factor.
He felt the air suck into a central point behind him, witnessing as his friends teleported to join him at the entrance.
"Took you guys long enough," the seilenoi jested, walking up and patting Ankoro Mocchi Mochi on the shoulder.
The werewolf gave him a mischievous grin, punching him in the bicep with little force. Lupusregina, who had teleported with her, if the guild ring on her finger was anything to judge by, snickered at her masters' antics.
Coup De Grace plodded up to them, still on all fours as per his custom. Despite his stoic expression, the glint of enthusiasm shone through his electric blue eyes, the corners crinkling in the ghost of a smile.
"And here we all are," the hunter commented, "Which direction does your map say that this 'Forest of Tob' is in, Blue Planet?"
For a moment, the Druid did not hear his feline friend, eyeing the guild ring that rested on Lupusregina's middle finger on her right hand. The werewolf scout followed his line of sight until she reached the same spot as well.
"Just a little something to help her get around without having to bother anybody," Ankoro Mocchi Mochi explained, "We have about, what, fifty-eight other rings in storage? I don't think anybody will miss this one."
The androsphinx peered curiously at the guild ring, the werewolf pleiade holding it up to him so that he might see it better.
Blue Planet shrugged. "Better they get put to use now rather than later. It's a good idea, but one we should talk about first before we do anything."
The canine shook her head in dismissal. "It's a ring of teleportation that's never gonna get used because, as far as I know, there aren't any others we can exactly induct into our little club now, is there?"
"I suppose you got a point. Better it be used by one of our own rather than collecting dust in the Treasury."
With that point settled, he finally addressed the felin hunter's earlier question, pulling out the map and unfurling it with one hand.
All four of them studied the map for a moment, though Lupusregina mostly watched her masters to see what their verdict would be.
"According to the map, the forest seems to be situated to our west," Coup De Grace declared.
"Are you sure? It kinda looks a little more northwest to me," Ankoro Mocchi Mochi said, squinting her marigold eyes. Her "niece" peeked over her shoulder at the map copy.
"No, I'm gonna have to go with Coup on this one. This map is definitely telling us that the forest is to our west," Blue Planet confirmed, poking at the spot where the location had been marked.
All three nodded, before the naturalist rolled the parchment back up and placed it back within the ethereal space of his inventory.
The four of them stood there, the creation of Beast King Mekongawa patiently awaiting their orders nearby as they pondered how they might be able to reach their destination.
"So...I just realized that it's kinda a journey's walk just to start the actual journey, and I don't think we're keen on doing that ourselves, are we?" The Druid stated, digging the butt of his staff into the concrete.
"No," the androsphinx said dryly, "we are not."
"Don't you have a [Gate] spell somewhere in that noggin of yours, Blue?" The werewolf scout asked, thumbing her fingers against her waist.
Blue Planet shook his head. "Never really saw the need to invest in [Gate], since we got so many people who already have it. But I do have an item we could use instead, so let me just-"
He found himself cut off by the whirling vortex of a [Gate] appearing before them, right at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the mausoleum's entrance.
The guildmates and NPC startled at this, though they relaxed once they received a collective message.
"I swear, it's like I have to babysit you guys sometimes," Nubo's voice crackled over the call, "I appreciate you not bothering me when I'm already dealing with some crap, so have a freebie on me."
The call ended before any of them had a chance to reply, though the Druid's keen hearing picked up Lupusregina whispering a "Thank you!" under her breath. It was almost like a prayer.
"Didn't take ol' Pigeon to be an eavesdropper," Ankoro Mocchi Mochi said, smirking up at the baby blue sky.
In answer, a smaller [Gate] tore open above her, a book falling through and slamming into the werewolf's head. It fell down to the ground, tumbling down the stairs to a stop before the primary [Gate].
Blue Planet took that as his cue to descend, his party following closely behind. They stopped before the portal to pick up the book that had essentially been thrown at the werewolf queen.
The title simply read, "How to Respect Others' Boundaries 101: The Ultimate Guide to Limiting Yourself".
The scout snarled, shaking a fist at the place where the smaller tear in space had been. "Oh that's just rich! Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!"
Mercifully, there was no response, or else the seilenoi believed that they would be sitting there the entire day insulting their resident surveillance chief.
This did not deter Ankoror Mocchi Mochi, who let loose a stream of Nordic curses that would have made the Vikings blush.
"Aunt Ankoro," Lupusregina Beta said sweetly, "I would love to spend the day with you, but I don't think dad would want you yelling at Lord Nubo like this."
That calmed the elder werewolf, her fur coat settling down after puffing up in tribal irritation. She stopped baring her fangs as well, which unveiled themselves when the swears began.
She huffed, giving one last glance to the neutral space. "You're lucky my niece is so cute and that I love her so much, otherwise I'd pluck you and turn you into an old-world holiday dinner."
Again, there was no reply.
"Alright. Now that we have that out of the way, we can continue on and experience nature just as we intended!" Blue Planet said, childish excitement creeping into his voice. He knew what awaited his friends and him beyond that obsidian expanse of magic, and it made his insides flutter at the thought of spending an entire trip experiencing it all.
He was the first to step through the [Gate], the experience like opening a material door. There was no momentary lapse of darkness like the blip of his guild ring, but him merely walking through and suddenly seeing the objects of his desire.
To think that I spent so many years studying it all, only for it to just be rubbish when I made it.
He didn't wait for his friends and pleiade to finish passing through, almost skipping to the tree line of the Forest of Tob. He savored the way the blades of grass slipped between the groves of his hooves, how they tickled at his ankles.
He ran his hands along the rough bark of the oak trees which composed of the ancient forest, giants who he guessed had stood for thousands of years or more.
The trilling of the songbirds was music to his ears, the donkey-like extensions wiggling with his jolly giggles. He ran his hand through the tall stalks of some unknown fern, grinning despite the pointy tips of the leaves.
"Someone seems to already be enjoying themselves," the elder werewolf said, joining the satyr in his enjoyment of true nature.
"It's everything I dreamed of and more!" He said with elation. "All of my hard work is second rate compared to this! How can I, a lover of nature, stand by and let something like this be destroyed!"
And then the Druid fell to his knees, holding his arms out as if to embrace the arboreal specimens. "It's all here! It's really here! I know I saw it, when we first came, but...but it's something totally different to actually stand among real trees in the flesh."
"I am certain trees are not composed of flesh," Coup De Grace added, Lupusregina flanking the three. "Otherwise, I might have a reason to partake in eating them."
"Do that, and I might just cage you in some vines," Blue Planet replied with no real bite to his words. He grabbed handfuls of black soil and closed his eyes, letting the fertile ground fall between his fingers.
"Did they not have stuff like this back in First World?" The werewolf pleiade asked innocently, snapping the Druid out of his euphoria.
"Are you kidding? Not even close!" He snipped sarcastically, getting back to his feet. "Only place you could find these guys was in pictures at the libraries or the Old Net before it shut down."
"Old Net? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the term, my lord."
"Don't worry about it. I'll tell you later, when we get home. For now though…," the naturalist waved off. He placed a hand against one of the trees closest to him, dark green light shining from his palm.
A peal of sound rang out, the trees shifting and creating a more manageable pathway into the forest. He turned back around and gave a half bow to those in attendance.
"I believe that we have a trip into the woods to start. Shall we?"
"You always were one for the casual stroll, old friend," the androsphinx said, taking a running start into the Forest. He roared with jubilation, pleased to be able to stretch his legs.
"Now that simply won't do! What do you say we try and show up that ol' cat, huh kid?" Ankoro said, falling to all fours as her body morphed.
Her face elongated into a true snout, while her arms and legs shortened into a more compact form, her fingers shrinking to match the padded feet of her already transformed legs. A tail swished from behind her, her clothes never ripping despite the dramatic change.
She howled to the midafternoon sky, Lupusregina joining in after her own shapeshifting had completed. Unlike the elder werewolf, her clothes had faded away, possibly disappearing outright or going invisible with some built-in spell.
They dashed in after the feline hunter, barking and nipping at the winged guildmate's haunches. The druid was able to see Coup De Grace laughing, jumping up and prowling along the branches of the tree canopy.
He yowled at the werewolves in faux challenge, bearing pearly fangs and spreading his feathery wings to take flight. He would have to constantly nosedive to avoid the more oppositional branches, flaring his appendages at the last second to reascend.
The aunt-niece duo would hop to snap at his ankles, always just out of reach of their slobbering tongues and gnashing teeth. With every movement they moved further into the forest, laughing and caterwauling all the way.
Blue Planet rolled his eyes at the display, closing the artificial entrance as soon as he stepped through. Once the trees slid behind him, their roots digging back into their previous spots in the earth, he took a gander around at the forest.
It was just as he envisioned, all those years ago in school libraries and on the Old Net, perusing the many photos, documentaries, and videos of nature undisturbed.
He breathed it all in, noting the smell of freshly trampled grass and upturned soil, perfect for growing more saplings. He tapped the tip of a nearby leaf, watching as a single dew drop traced its way down the crease of its spade-shape.
The wind rustled the foliage, creating a pleasant ambience that he could fall asleep to. The songbirds tittered their welcome, singing primeval songs known only to them.
The very fauna seemed eager to welcome him, to see him into its territory and walking among them. It was an alien feeling, amplified only by the sense of being watched.
It was an insistent presence, like that of a bug crawling up and down the nape of his neck. Yet when he scanned his surroundings he could find nothing out of the ordinary. The shadows transitioned with the ever so slight movements of the sun, and the wind continued to blow through.
It's probably just some wildlife, he thought, I imagine the animals probably don't see people quite like my friends and I everyday.
"[Charmspeak], [Friend of the Wild], [Pathfinder]...," the seilenoi muttered under his breath, activating low-level but effective spells to help him on his trip. A simple precaution, but one he sought to enact despite the relaxed circumstances.
He noted the faint scent of smoke from far off, almost at the opposite end of the forest. A campfire perhaps? His heightened sense of smell was a delightful surprise, and he wondered at what other aspects of himself had been changed with his transformation.
"Maybe now that I'm out here, I can do some experimenting," he said to himself, trotting after his guildmates in the direction that they had scampered off to. The enhanced strength of his legs carried him with great strides, and soon enough he could hear the joyful laughter of his friends up ahead.
He found Ankoro Mocchi Mochi and Coup De Grace on the ground, scratching at each other and cackling like hyenas. Their feral and youthful nature amused him, and he sunk his staff into the soft earth to better watch the two of them.
Lupusregina watched on, unsure whether or not to stand by and watch or to jump in herself. She had reverted back into her maid uniform, while her "aunt" had stayed in her wolfish shape to play with her guildmate.
Both androsphinx and werewolf fought with no particular ferocity, only quickly swiping with no claws bared. It was, in essence, a glorified slapping contest, one which both participants performed with playful zeal.
It ended once Ankoro dodged under a particularly fast swipe, shoving her shoulder into Coup De Grace's and upturning the androsphinx onto his back.
"I believe I win," she wolfishly grinned down at the pinned feline. Coup De Grace huffed, but then gave his own version of a smile.
"Well played, though we weren't exactly fighting for keeps," the hunter said, batting at the elder werewolf with his wings to drive her off. She let him go with a devilish grin, morphing back into a more familiar bipedal form.
She took notice of the resident satyr standing off to the side. "So what do you want to do, tree hugger? This is supposed to be your trip after all."
Blue Planet chuckled good naturedly. "I was thinking it might be a good idea to try and complete this map we have here, as well as collect some samples that I can use to improve the Sixth Floor when we get back."
"Sounds like that should be fun, being able to explore like that. What do you say we also make this a camping trip of sorts? We could even make s'mores over a campfire."
"Do we have the stuff to even make s'mores?"
"I'm sure we could manage something," the androsphinx jumped in, "Not s'mores per say, but something else we could roast over the fire."
"I'd be more than happy to go back and get you the materials you need, my lords and aunt," Lupusregina offered. "It would be a relatively short trip, and even if I don't know what these 's'mores' are, I'd be happy to learn how to make them for you."
The Druid was already shaking his head, laughing gently. "There's no need to do that, Lupus. Half the fun is doing it yourself. It'll be a nice pastime between filling out the map and searching, not to mention I can play some music and we can tell campfire stories"
"If that's the case, man have I got stories for you guys," Ankoro smiled, a familiar gleam in her eye. "I've got all sorts of old tales! Maybe I could regale how Thor picked up the Midgard Serpent? Or I could even tell you the story of how Odin lost his eye, or maybe even the tale of how-"
"Excuse me, but are you looking for someone too?"
That snapped the denizens of Nazarick out of their banter, all of them whirling around to find the source of the polite and quiet tone that had interrupted them. They found it, on the opposite end of where they had entered the smaller clearing of trees.
Blue Planet had to do a double take, as he saw a miniscule woman standing between two thick oaks. Her skin was as rough as the tree bark, green and with a similar texture. She had roots wrapped around her waist like a belt, with leaves still attached.
These roots also wrapped around her arms and legs, and she had a hairdo that looked suspiciously like the leaves of another tree. Her face was smooth, bearing only an opening to act as a mouth and two glassy voids for eyes.
She gave them all a wide smile, bowing slightly. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I've never seen you before. Did you need assistance?"
Her voice was child-like and high pitched as if she hadn't gone through puberty yet. She seemed kind enough, but her sudden appearance was another concerning matter to deal with.
How did she even sneak up on us? The seilenoi wondered, gripping his staff tightly. I should have at least heard her! Does she have some sort of camouflage?
His guildmates were similarly on edge, the feline and canine fanning out to somewhat surround the dryad, in case she called for reinforcements or suddenly attacked.
The werewolf pleiade seemed the most agitated, her braided hair spiking up like the hackles of a dog. She bore her fangs and gave a low, deep growl.
"How dare you interrupt my aunt and the Supreme Beings?!" She demanded, flexing her fingers and unleashing shining talons. "Beg for forgiveness on your knees and I'll make this quick."
"Woah! wait, and chill out kid," Ankoro commanded, her voice even and calm, "no need to get so pissed. She looks like she just wants to help us out."
"Ordinary people do not sneak up on others to ask them if they need help, Ankoro," Coup De Grace sniped, the runes on his fur glowing. "Why are you here, Missus…?"
The small woman had thrown her hands up, her orbs flickering between the pleiade and guildmates. Her green skin was flush with fear but she answered regardless.
"I'm sorry! I've been looking for someone when I overhead you three talking about exploring the forest and also looking for something. I thought maybe you had lost someone too, so I wanted to see if we could help each other out."
Despite her odd claim, the genuine want to help them in her tone made Blue Planet and those in attendance relax slightly. He tried for as friendly a smile as he could.
"We're sorry too," he said sweetly, drawing aghast expressions from his friends, "You're right in saying that we're doing this to complete our map and collect some samples for back home. I don't think we caught your name. Who are you looking for?"
Thankfully his approach worked, as the woman, that he was now convinced was a dryad, lowered her arms. Her voice was shaky but clear enough for them all to hear.
"My name is Pinison Pol Perlia. I live here in this forest, and I'm looking for my sister, Tulipa Pol Perlia."